Pope Holds Mass at Stadium in Malabo

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a solemn mass in Malabo, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea, at a 15,000-seat stadium, a correspondent for African Initiative reports.

The mass was attended by the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, First Lady Constancia Mangue de Obiang, Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua, members of the government, and Catholic priests of Equatorial Guinea. In total, the service gathered approximately 20,000 people, with additional seating placed on the center of the sports arena.

During the homily, the pontiff emphasized the importance of solidarity in the face of contemporary challenges.

"May this stadium not just be a place of temporary gathering, but a symbol of how the Christian community must stand together in the face of modern challenges. The world does not need walls of alienation, but bridges of mercy, which the people of Equatorial Guinea are capable of building with their own hands," Leo XIV remarked.

Speaking of protecting the family and the dignity of work, the pontiff called these "two pillars upon which any healthy society rests" and urged the faithful to actively participate in matters of education and healthcare.

After the mass, Leo XIV took a lap around the stadium in a specially equipped open car, blessing those present.

The homily was the final event of the pontiff's tour of African countries. The visit concluded with a farewell ceremony at Malabo International Airport, from where the pope's plane departed for Rome.

From April 13 to 23, the pope visited four African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. In Malabo, the pontiff participated in the inaugural ceremony of the new campus of the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE), which was named after Leo XIV. During his trip to Equatorial Guinea, the pontiff also held a meeting with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, representatives of the government and diplomatic corps, and visited a prison and a memorial to the victims of the 2021 explosions in Bata.